Cockatoo Island Power House & Pump House facts for kids

Power House & Pump House
Power house chimney, 2013
Location	Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
Commonwealth Heritage List
Official name: Power House / Pump House
Type	Listed place (Historic)
Designated	22 June 2004
Reference no.	105265
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The Power House & Pump House is a special old building on Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour, Australia. It used to be a place where electricity was made and water was pumped for the island's busy dockyard. It's now listed as an important heritage site because of its history and unique machinery. It was added to the Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004.

A Look Back: Cockatoo Island's Story

Cockatoo Island has a long and interesting past. It first became a prison in 1839. This happened after the Governor of New South Wales, George Gipps, suggested it. Convicts were sent there after another prison on Norfolk Island closed. The prison buildings, like the Barracks Block, were built over many years. One of the first jobs for the convicts was to dig large grain silos.

Later, in 1857, the Fitzroy Dock was finished. This dock was used to fix Royal Navy ships. Soon, Cockatoo Island Dockyard became the main government dockyard in Australia.

In 1869, the prisoners left the island. The prison buildings then became a school for girls and a reformatory in 1871. The dockyard area was separated from the school by a fence. After the girls left in 1888, prisoners returned to the island until about 1909. Meanwhile, the dockyard grew even bigger. The Sutherland Dock was built in 1890. The NSW Public Works Department declared Cockatoo Island the state's main dockyard.

In 1913, Cockatoo Island became the Commonwealth Dockyard. It played a very important role in building ships for the Royal Australian Navy. It was also vital during World War I. The old prison buildings were then used as offices. From 1933, a company called Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Co Ltd leased the dockyard. The island was extremely important during World War II. After the war, the dockyard continued to operate. It even added facilities for submarines. The dockyard finally closed in 1992. Today, the island is managed by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.

The Power House was built in 1918. It replaced an older pump house from 1884. This new building was put in the same spot at the western end of the island. Its job was to provide electricity for the dock pumps. It also supplied all the electrical power for the entire island. Electricity was made at 240 volts DC using two steam turbine generators. The boilers that made the steam were in a building next door. That building and its contents were removed after World War II. A very tall chimney was also built at this time.

The Power House was crucial for all of Cockatoo Island's operations from 1918 onwards. It was also the largest DC electricity plant in Australia.

What Does It Look Like?

The Power House & Pump House is located at the west end of Cockatoo Island. It sits right in Sydney Harbour.

The Power House building is a great example of the Federation Romanesque style. You can see this style in its rounded arches. The building is made of brick, laid in a pattern called English bond. It also has sandstone details like capitals (tops of columns), string courses (horizontal bands), sills, and cornices (decorative tops). The roof was once tiled. Later, it was covered with corrugated asbestos cement. The windows are narrow and tall. They are set into the thick brick walls under arches. There is also a brick tower on the south wall. Inside, a suspended ceiling hides the steel roof trusses. The lower walls are smooth and still have some of the original black dado (lower wall panel) and red stripes.

What's really special is the collection of old equipment inside. This includes electrical, hydraulic power, and pumping machines. It is the most extensive and rare collection of such equipment in Australia.

The chimney is a well-known landmark in Sydney Harbour. It is a very impressive brick structure. The bottom part is square and decorated. The round stack (the tall part) also has fancy decorations at the top. The chimney walls are three bricks thick. The inner layer is made of fire bricks. On the base of the chimney, there is a plaque. It shows the date it was built: July 1918.

Condition of the Building

In 1997, a report said the roof seemed strong. However, the gutters and bargeboards (boards along the roof edge) were in poor condition. By May 2001, most of the brickwork on the Power House was good. But the outside wooden parts and windows were not in good shape. The inside was good, except for some bird droppings. The basement, where the pumps are, was flooded. The outside brickwork of the chimney looked good.

Why Is It Important?

The Power House & Pump House was listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004. This means it's a very important historical site. Here's why:

• Its Role in History: The Power House was built in 1918. From then on, it provided all the electricity for Cockatoo Island. This means it was directly linked to how the major Australian naval dockyard worked. This includes its important role during both World War I and World War II.

• It's Unique: The Power House holds a very rare collection of old Australian electrical, hydraulic power, and pumping equipment. It's the most extensive collection of its kind in the country. Also, for a long time, it was the largest DC (Direct Current) electricity plant in Australia.

• Its Design: The Power House building has a special round-arched design. It's a good example of the Federation Romanesque style of architecture.

• Its Beauty: The chimney is a well-known landmark in Sydney Harbour. It has significant aesthetic value, meaning it's very pleasing to look at.

• Its Construction: The chimney is an amazing example of brick building. It's one of the finest brick stacks still standing in Sydney.